Stress

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Stress: "nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it" -Selye 1974

Negative stress= distress

positive stress= eustress

Stress Response: Hypothalamic Pituatary Adrenal, Sympathetic Nervous System

Stressor ____ Alarm ^^ Resistance ^-_ Exhaustion (return to homeostasis) OR Illness/death

Physiological Response to Stress

Nervous system: Autonomic (para(sympathetic NS))

Endocrine system: Hypothamlamo-pituaitary gland- adrenal system + associated hormones

Stress Responses:

NS: the limbic system + HPA

H-P: HPA axis

studies relate weight gain and stress to one another

HPA Axis- activated:

physically exhausted

immune + growth suspension

central obesity

high blood sugar

brain damage

Stressors-- hypothalamus CRH -- Pituitary ACTH -- Adrenal -- Cortisol inhibits CRH (back to stressor)

Stress + personality

some control over reaction to stress: learn to relax, reverse hormone response

learn to cope w/ stress

Stress Relaxation Skills

breathing exercises

progressive relaxation therapy

imagery

physical exercise